http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/pilot-resource-one-month-of--daily-text-devotions As texting has become increasingly popular these days, youth pastors are trying to utilize this new communication tool in their student ministries. One example of a way to use this tool is to text brief devotions daily to students. The Department of Christian Formation is working with a company to pilot a daily devotion texting service. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/pilot-resource-one-month-of--daily-text-devotions Thu, 29 May 2008 16:13:24 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/summer-plans-a-look-at-what-other-youth-pastors-are-doing-and-how-you-can-pray-for-them Meredith Peters Cape Cod Covenant Church Brewster, MA What does your summer look like? My summer looks like a great summer! I will be hopefully going to Youth Nexus with a couple of students. I am running our 2nd annual Senior High Missions Trip and we will be going to Darby, PA. And also a few different churches on the Cape will be combining for one awesome Vacation Bible School Program this summer. When those events are not going on I will be spending time with students and hopefully be visiting with some of them on the beach and getting ready for the fall! http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/summer-plans-a-look-at-what-other-youth-pastors-are-doing-and-how-you-can-pray-for-them Fri, 02 May 2008 09:45:26 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/how-do-you-end-well-in-youth-ministry--ideas-from-fellow-youth-pastors If there is one area of “ending” that I think I do well, it’s this (and it is pretty simple, but also one of those “duh” things, that is, obvious but easy to miss): At the end of every youth group meeting, I pronounce a blessing on the group. Sometimes it’s a straightforward biblical benediction, such as the one from Numbers. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/how-do-you-end-well-in-youth-ministry--ideas-from-fellow-youth-pastors Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:36:51 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/feet-to-faith-high-school-students-put-faith-in-action2 Hundreds of high-school students across the northwest will be gathering in August at Seattle University for “Feet to Faith ’08,” to learn how to live out their Christian faith here and now. From Wednesday August 6th to Monday August 11th, Feet to Faith will be a time for students to combine energetic and authentic worship with relevant social justice issues. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/feet-to-faith-high-school-students-put-faith-in-action2 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:38:51 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/what-you-need-to-know-about-chic-2009 CHIC Exists to… Be a catalyst for Christ-like change for the individual student, the larger youth group as a whole, and the church or ministry with which they are connected. CHIC is a place on the journey and an experience that uniquely and creatively inspires. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/what-you-need-to-know-about-chic-2009 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:22:34 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/the-importance-of-communicating-with-parents There is a quote hanging on the back of my office door that says, “When you’ve reached the family, you’ve reached the world.” For those of us whose hearts beat for ministry to, with, and for adolescents, we know how important and influential (for good or bad) our students’ parents are, and yet we also know that it becomes very easy to exclude parents from our ministry. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/the-importance-of-communicating-with-parents Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:54:30 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/tuggle-an-online-community-for-your-youth-ministry If you are like me, there are days that you feel completely behind when it comes to staying in touch with your students. You might get 20 text messages in the span of a single lunch meeting; have 30 posts on your My Space from one Friday night and a million invitations to be a ninja or a pirate on your Facebook account. Keeping track of it all is time consuming and at times tough on the soul as you navigate the good and the bad within those worlds. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/tuggle-an-online-community-for-your-youth-ministry Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:48:55 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/new-disability-ministries-website "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable." 1 Corinthians 12:18, 20-22 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/new-disability-ministries-website Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:37:29 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/fun-environment-friendly-youth-group-idea My thoughts have been on the environment a lot lately. All the styrofoam and paper/plastic we use and then throw away was beginning to bother me. Also as a (kind of) funny side note, a running mystery/joke in our church council is how on earth we end up going through so many cups in a month, keeping the size of our church in mind. It's just a crazy added expense. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/fun-environment-friendly-youth-group-idea Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:38:58 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/guided-trips-to-chicago-destinations-will-be-offered-at-ywc-2008 Guided trips will be offered to the following Chicago destinations Sunday afternoon after the morning seminars at YWC 2008. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/guided-trips-to-chicago-destinations-will-be-offered-at-ywc-2008 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:42:04 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/some-gift-ideas-from-bread-for-the-world Still need to buy a few gifts? Or maybe you just want to get Bread for the World items at great prices. Either way, now is the time to buy T-shirts, tote bags, note cards, and more at 50% off! http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/some-gift-ideas-from-bread-for-the-world Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:18:15 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/reload-is-coming-to-a-city-near-you Reload is.... "People, places, training, the boom, the bang, the dun-dada, worship, workshops, and the word of God, music, solos, spoken word, choirs, gospel, hip-hop, youth workers, volunteers, leaders, laughter, dancing, singing, East Coast, West Coast - Reloaded!" -Fred Oduyoye, Director of the Reload Training Tour http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/reload-is-coming-to-a-city-near-you Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:15:01 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/check-out-the-new-journey-discipleship/confirmation-resource Check out the new Journey:Discipleship/Confirmation resource that can be used for youth and adult discipleship. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/check-out-the-new-journey-discipleship/confirmation-resource Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:12:04 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/national-youth-ministry-conference-2008 GROUP is hosting the National Youth Ministry Conference in Cincinnati on Feb. 22-25, 2008. For more information click here. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/national-youth-ministry-conference-2008 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:33:06 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/ywc-info-you-need-to-know YWC 2008 is quickly approaching! We have been updating the YWC website with tons of helpful information. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/ywc-info-you-need-to-know Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:10:21 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/pastoral-changes---november-2007 Here are the pastoral changes reported as of 11.14.07 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/pastoral-changes---november-2007 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:42:42 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/the-upcoming-time-to-breathe-retreat---why-should-you-go We are planning a Time to Breathe Retreat just for you - youth workers! From March 11-13, 2008 youth workers will gather together in Malibu, CA to be with God. There are many reasons why you should consider attending the upcoming Time to Breathe Retreat, read what some of your fellow youth workers are saying about the retreat and consider going yourself! http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/the-upcoming-time-to-breathe-retreat---why-should-you-go Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:15:24 -0600 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/check-out-the-following-newly-added-youth-ministry-tools Fuller Theological Seminary's College Transition Project This is a great resource for those of you interested in college ministry and various transition issues. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/check-out-the-following-newly-added-youth-ministry-tools Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:40:42 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/building-bridges-with-glbt-youth-in-your-ministry North Park University's Center for Youth Ministry Studies is hosting a Friday evening, all day Saturday seminar/course with guest lecturer Andrew Marin, founder of The Marin Foundation. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/building-bridges-with-glbt-youth-in-your-ministry Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:59:15 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/free-conference-call-on-partnering-with-parents Center for Youth Ministry Studies at North Park University and North Park Theological Seminary to host Free Conference Call on Partnering with Parents in your Youth Ministry. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/free-conference-call-on-partnering-with-parents Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:59:29 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/upcoming-time-to-breathe-retreat-for-youth-workers Breathe… an invitation to a place and time to hear God’s still small voice. “A Time to Breathe” is an interactive and experiential retreat designed to provide guidance and experience in spiritual practices so that participants may grow in their journey with God. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/upcoming-time-to-breathe-retreat-for-youth-workers Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:30:06 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/north-park-university-announces-edge-faith-and-parents-edge Edge Faith is a newsletter published three times by the office of Undergraduate Admission of North Park University for high school students. Developed by CZ Marketing based on research of students who attended CHIC in 2003, it is a six page printed newsletter that features interviews with interesting Christians, short articles, a review of one or two bands, and more. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/north-park-university-announces-edge-faith-and-parents-edge Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:56:06 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/cyms-internship-and-job-fair Center for Youth Ministry Studies (CYMS) Internship and Job Fair January 28, 2008 from 2:30 to 5 pm Purpose: Between YWC and Midwinter, CYMS is hosting a Youth Ministry Internship and Job Fair at North Park Theological Seminary. The purpose of this fair is to provide a place for you to meet and possibly interview current undergraduate and seminary students for positions in your youth ministry. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/cyms-internship-and-job-fair Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:48:01 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/discuss-how-are-you-feeling-this-fall NEW! Discussion posts - we invite your comments. We are going to post "discussion topics" periodically on this blog. To comment, click on the link that says "reply", then fill in your information. Currently you can post without registering or having your content go into a holding que. However any comment can be deleted at anytime. We recently received the following email from a fellow youth pastor. How do these thoughts resonate with you? http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/discuss-how-are-you-feeling-this-fall Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:56:46 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/youth-worker-sankofa-2008 Greetings Youth Workers! This summer I saw Hairspray, a movie that takes place in the 60’s when our culture was dealing with so many changes. The kind of clothes people wore, what we did for free time, what was important to us were all in question. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/youth-worker-sankofa-2008 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:43:30 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/a-note-from-marti-burger It was a summer full of anticipation. For the first time in a long time I was going on a Mission Trip with the local church. It was an intergenerational trip. People ranged in age from 3-70 years old. We spent the year preparing to work together, learning about the culture and the language. When the time came, we had the privilege of working with some of the Covenant Churches in Ecuador. It was an incredible two weeks. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/a-note-from-marti-burger Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:45:25 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/pastoral-changes---october-2007 Here are the pastoral changes reported as of September 14, 2007. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/pastoral-changes---october-2007 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:45:25 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/upcoming-events---october-2007 Find out what events are taking place around the country in the next several months! http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/upcoming-events---october-2007 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:45:25 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/feet-to-faith Feet to Faith It is our strong desire to challenge youth to be followers of Jesus Christ being a people who consistently live out both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Feet to Faith has come about as a response to this desire. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/feet-to-faith Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:45:25 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/current-youth-ministry-resources There are tons of great resources out there for you to choose from, this month we tried to sort through them and bring you some of the best. Take a look through the list and see what you can use today! http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/current-youth-ministry-resources Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:03:17 -0500 http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/intergenerational-missions-trip---melissa-wall Intergenerational Missions Trip by Melissa Wall What do you get when you put 27 individuals together from one church ranging from ages three to sixty-nine? An unforgettable experience in the jungles of El Chaco, Ecuador. Since I began at DeerGrove three years ago, I continue to be encouraged at the value the DeerGrove family places on Intergenerational Ministries. http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/yowoup/home/intergenerational-missions-trip---melissa-wall Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:45:24 -0500